Illegal massage parlours anger licensed owners

Cambridge Times

The only two licensed owners of adult massage parlours in Cambridge are being rubbed the wrong way by about a dozen other operations they deem to be illegal. They also say they’re victims of a lack of bylaw enforcement that’s creating an unfair playing field.

Licence holders presiding over Escape Spa, 199 Ainslie St. in Galt, and Tabu Adult Massage and Spa, 743 King St. E in Preston, contacted the Cambridge Times last week to talk about their situation on the basis of anonymity. They claim their business has dropped 300 per cent over the past three years as numerous massage parlours have popped up across the city, offering more than just back rubs.

Cambridge has three defined classes of licences for adult massage parlours, strip clubs and stores that sell items such as x-rated videos, magazines and sex toys. Only two licenses are permitted in each class and owners believe that the government applies duopoly for various reasons, not the least of which is morality.

Businesses classified as adult entertainment, including massage parlours, are regulated for health and safety reasons, according to Hardy Bromberg, the city’s director of building and bylaw enforcement.

The Canadian Border Services Agency arrested two foreign nationals last week as part of a joint-investigation into local adult massage parlours that was led by the city’s bylaw enforcement team, with the support of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Waterloo Regional Police Service. The two individuals arrested will be subject to admissibility hearings and potential removal from Canada, according to the CBSA.

Yet the owner of Escape Spa said that unlicensed operations didn’t just appear overnight and he complained to the city long before the investigation began last fall. The two arrests did little to help legitimate businesses that are struggling, he said.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg. Why aren’t they bringing their resources in to shut illegal business down? Our businesses are closing down slowly. The city says it started receiving complaints in 2011, but that’s false. We’ve been complaining for years.”

The city stipulates that adult massage operations must be located in downtown areas, however, licence holders say that some businesses can be found inside office condominiums in industrial areas and lock their doors during hours of operations.

“We’re not permitted to do that, so we don’t, but these businesses have all these so-called safety precautions, including cameras, so they can’t be busted. They open up as holistic massage places, but they are providing exactly the same service that we provide, if not more, and the majority of them are providing much, much more. If we did that we’d lose our licence, which is a very valuable commodity.”

The owners of both licensed adult massage operations in Cambridge pay thousands of dollars to renew their licences and claim to possess blatant proof of other illegitimate businesses that advertise sensual massages and provide sexual services to patrons.

Bromberg said the investigation into local adult establishments is continuing.

“As evidenced by last week’s events, we do take these complaints seriously,” he said, “but until the investigation is complete, I can’t say too much more…

“I don’t want to get into what type of evidence we have and don’t have,” he added. “All those things will be part of our investigation though.”

The licensed operators noted that the Ontario Municipal Act clearly states that any business appealing to a sexual nature is classified as an adult entertainment establishment.

“Imagine going to a strip club and getting a massage from one of the ladies in her thong and her bra, except if sitting in your seat you’re going to lie down on the table. We say, even if they’re doing exactly that and only that, the city still isn’t doing anything to stop them from operating.”

The investigation is ongoing. In the meantime, authorities are encouraging members of the public to come forward with tips or information by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).